“As far as the year 2006-07 is concerned, both Core 2 Duo and Dual Core would continue to be our key focus areas for growth and we would work with the channel so that they help us in this endeavor”

Among the many other things that hit headlines on 2006, was the launch of
Intel's Core 2 Duo processors. Targeted at the consumer and business desktop
segment, Intel began shipping the new Core 2 Duo processor for desktops in early
August and for laptops at the end of August. In India, OEMs like Xenitis, HP,
IBM, Connoiseur and Zenith are among those, which ship PCs powered by Core 2
Duo. Ashok Nair, National Sales Manager, Intel is excited about the fact that
Core 2 Duo has done pretty well for itself in the India market and believes that
the future would see Core 2 Duo do better

Core 2 Duo was among the biggest launches for Intel this year. Post its
launch what has been the response thus far?

Indeed the launch of Core 2 Duo was significant event for Intel. Luckily for us
the response to the same has been phenomenally positive. Both our channel
partners as well as the customers are very happy about the product. Since its
launch, the product has done pretty well for itself.

While the chips themselves are as good as they are, the fact that Intel did a
host of pre-launch activity involving the channel, helped to get the products
across successfully. As it stands today, not just enterprises but SMB and the
small market players are very positive about the benefits of switching to Core 2
Duo.

Ashok Nair National Sales Manager, Intel

Given the positive response to Core 2 Duo, what strategies have you
adopted to push the sales through partners?

First of all we have given all our channel partners dealing with Core 2 Duo
demon­stration kits and tips on how to sell the same to the customer. In
addition all partners that deal with Core 2 Duo will be eligible for special
incentives. Of course print advertisements and a other marketing schemes are
part of the regular support that we would give our partners for Core 2 Duo as
well.

Following the successful launch of Core 2 Duo in India we are also doing a
lot of on-ground activities both in the metro as well as tier two and tier three
cities so that our partners are well equipped to work with Core 2 Duo.
Additionally we are making sure that our partners are given regular hands on
training as regards the technical aspects of Core 2 Duo and how best to
communicate the benefits of Core 2 Duo to the customers. 

Given that Core 2 Duo has huge benefits to the end-user, are you looking
at any specific market verticals for the same? Do you see aggressive growth in
any area of the market for Core 2 Duo?

Core 2 Duo has been targeted basically at a whole of customer segments, which
include both enterprise as well as the SMB. Given that the value-add for Core 2
Duo users is pretty high, the acceptance level among the customers as well as
channel partners is also high. For Intel the typical target verticals would be
government, manufacturing as well as education, all of which are expected to
grow rapidly in the near future. In order to reach out to all market segments we
have in mind a series of programs and seminars for the SMB customers and we
would involve many ISVs in these endeavors of ours.

What is your agenda for the rest of the year as regards Core 2 Duo? Any
major challenges that you believe need to be overcome as yet?

As far as the year 2006-07 is concerned, both Core 2 Duo and Dual core would
continue to be our key focus areas for growth. We would also continue to focus
on the channel and provide partners with better incentives to do business with
these two technologies. As regards the challenges that lie ahead, we feel that
complete transition to these technologies could take some time; but given the
enthusiasm among customers and the channel as well as the big productivity
enhancements that come with Core 2 Duo, this transition would be both easy and
quick.

-Subbalakshmi BM